Japan’s First Level 4 Autonomous Vehicle Collides With Bicycle, Operations Halted

Japan’s first Level 4 autonomous vehicle has been involved in a collision with a bicycle, leading to a halt in operations, as reported by Nikkei Automotive. Four passengers were in the vehicle at the time of the incident, but no injuries were reported. The cyclist was also unharmed.

Following the collision, the control center independently decided to stop the operation of the autonomous vehicle. Currently, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism are investigating the cause. Operations will not resume until the cause is determined and preventative measures are implemented.

In this incident, the brakes were applied, but contact with the bicycle could not be avoided.

Meanwhile, a paid mobility service corresponding to Level 4 autonomous driving began in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, in May. This is the first time in Japan that a mobility service using driverless vehicles has been put into practical use.

The driving route has an electronic guideline, and the vehicle drives along this line. RFID tags are buried at the start and end points. The vehicle reads the information from these tags and stops at designated places at the start and end points. The service operates three vehicles, one making 18 round trips per day. Each vehicle travels approximately 43.5 miles (70km) per day.

The vehicles are charged before departure, allowing for continuous driving without the need for charging en route. The operation is based on a timetable, similar to a bus or train service. There are no stops between the start and endpoints.

This project is part of the ‘Road to the L4’ national project promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan. The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology served as the secretariat, and Mitsubishi Electric, Yamaha Motor, and Soliton Systems jointly developed and tested the service. Of these four companies and organizations, Yamaha developed the autonomous vehicle.

The company, working on a Level 3 autonomous golf cart-type electric vehicle, upgraded it for Level 4 use. Mitsubishi Electric developed the independent driving control system. At the same time, Soliton was responsible for developing the remote monitoring system.

The vehicle is equipped with a single-lens camera and a LiDAR sensor to monitor the front of the vehicle. It also uses a camera, millimeter radar, and ultrasonic sensor.

The service operates from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, making three round trips per hour. If there is demand, irregular operations are planned from 9 a.m. to sunset on weekdays. The fare is 100 yen (about $0.91) for adults and 50 yen (about $0.45) for middle school students and younger (free for preschoolers).

Future tasks include improving the system to operate in all weather conditions and at night, as well as increasing the vehicle’s speed. Currently, the service’s speed is limited to less than 7.5 mph (12km/h).